Picking an RC boat for a kid is no easy task, as you have to take into account things like:
This article is going to make it easy for you to pick the perfect one in less than 10 minutes.
Here's the catch though:
You need to take note of your budget and check the price you're willing to pay first.
Done?
Let's get started!
Propeller protection for kids
There are certain RC boats that have a system to protect you and your kids from starting up the propeller on the ground.
It's made in such a way to only complete the circuit for power only when the boat is in water.
Flipping mechanism
Some boats have a flipping mechanism so they're self-righting in case you flip them in the water.
Range
The boats on this list work with 2.4ghz transmitters and usually have a range over 100m and up to 300m, which is usually enough.
This is my top list with the 7 rc boats for kids carefully selected... don't necesarily judge them by the place they're on, as there's really not much difference in quality or fun you can have with them.
I suggest you check my top best toy drones for kids too.
If you're a parent, you might want to learn a bit about rc boats yourself before ordering one.
Choose what looks best to you and the ones that come with the features you're most looking for.
Battery
15min
Recommended age
7 years old+
Self-righting
yes
Speed
30km/h (20mph)
The Altair AA aqua boat is probably my favorite recommendation both for children and adults, as it features a really high quality build along with a child safe propeller system that will block the motor from running if it's not in water.
It also has the option to flip itself back in place if it tips over, but that's not something that really happens as the build and gravity center makes it very stable. The flipping, self-righting system is called anti-capsize and is a huge help. The transmitter is really well built and easy to use and the overal attention to detail is something that definitely justifies the price.
Pros
Cons
Battery
20min
Recommended age
8 years old+
Self-righting
no
Speed
20km/h (12mph)
The Radio Ranger 2 is a fishing RC boat that actually works thanks to it's considerable size and power.
I would recommend this boat for 8 year old kids or older, as fishing can be quite challenging.
This might just be the most fun family activity a dad and mom could do with their kid to develop a deep sense of satisfaction and working towards a goal.
Imagine working together with your child and teaching him to put bait and carefully drive the boat around the water until the fish bites.
Then, battling with the fish and take it back to you victoriously. It's an experience that teach children to work toward a goal and make it fun in the meantime.
Pros
Cons
Battery
15min
Recommended age
5 years old+
Self-righting
yes
Speed
25km/h (15mph)
The UDI001 venom remote control boat is quite popular with people interested to have fun with a very controllable and easy to use boat.
Unlike many other RC boats, this one has two stabilizing fins on the stern which make it run very smooth and stable when doing turns. It's a blast to pilot it at max speed and race with friends and at the same time you can lower the speed and let your kids play in the pool with it.
Pros
Cons
Battery
25min
Recommended age
4 years old +
Self-righting
no
Speed
8km/h
These two boats offer a completely different experience for kids than the other ones on this list. They may not be the fastest, but the feeling of controlling a battleship destroyer with cannons that can be moved is quite entertaining for many kids (age 4 and up) and even adults.
Nothing on it really fires so it's as safe as it comes. The destroyer version also has helicopters and airplanes on board that can be removed that kids love to play with.
Pros
Cons
Battery
15min
Recommended age
12 years old+
Self-righting
yes
Speed
40km/h (25mph)
There are many good things you can say about this boat from FunTech, especially when it comes to speed and design. From the 1750KV motor to the 4 cm metal propeller with a cable drive system that makes it super powerful.
How powerful?
I'm talking 40km/h speed that's nothing to be joked with. The design is quite unique, featuring a shark face, but keep in mind, this is no toy for small children.I would only recommend it for kids over 12 years old at least
Pros
Cons
There are a few ways rc boats could be a threat to a kid:
1.The propeller started spinning in the air and hurt him.
This isn't possible with the boats on this list as they have a safety mechanism that closes the circuit for the motor only when they're in the water. THis means the blades will never start spinning on the ground.
2. Kids could hit themselves while in the water
If you make sure nobody is in the water while the kids are playing, everything should be good. The speed of some of these boats could make for a slight bruise, but nothing more, as they're very light and quite small.
Since there are plenty of toy level boats, kids as young as 3 years old can start playing with them in the pool.
I would personally recommend them for children older than 5, but the good thing is that there is no upper limit.
The average range of a transmitter, just like the ones on toy drones, is about 100m, with some going up to 300m.
You can usually find the distance they can go in the specifications of the product on the amazon page.
Here's why it depends:
You could ram it in full power at 15mph and the battery would get depleated in less than 10 min.
But in normal use circumstances, the standard battery life for racing toy boats is about 20 minutes.
Can batteries be changed during play?
Sure thing, you can remove the boat from the water and carefully change the low lipo battery with another one.
How long does charging one battery take?
Depending on the size of the battery, there's an average of an hour upwards to 2 hours in total.
How are batteries recharged?
All the boats on this list come with their included battery charger.
Lipo batteries like the ones used in the rc boats usually are charged either by plugging them to a balance charger and into the wall socket or directly to a USB port (for smaller ones).
Afraid you'll race it over the maximum range and lose it to the waves?
I feel you here.
However, there are ways to make sure that doesn't happen.
1. Play with the boat on an enclosed small water mass
2. Have a secondary longer range RC boat to save the first (this is lots of fun)
3. Tie it with a rope
4. Put an aluminum foil behind the controller to slightly improve signal and hopefully get it back
5.Make sure to keep it closer to a mass of land so you can wal up closer to it.
